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Textbook
The World's Christians: Who they are, Where they are, and How they got thereMay 2011, ©2011, Wiley-Blackwell
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- Covers the entire globe: Africa, Asia, and Latin America as well as Europe, North America, and the Pacific
- Provides impartial, in-depth descriptions of the world's four major Christian traditions: Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and Pentecostal/Charismatic
- Utilizes the best available sources to produce an up-to-date profile of demographic trends in the Christian population
- Blends history, sociology, anthropology, and theology to create a rich, multi-layered analysis of the world Christian movement
- Features clear maps and 4-color illustrations throughout the volume
Preface.
Introduction.
Part I: Who They Are.
Introduction.
1 The Orthodox Tradition.
2 The Catholic Tradition.
3 The Protestant Tradition.
4 The Pentecostal/Charismatic Tradition.
Part II: Where They Are.
Introduction.
5 The Middle East and North Africa: Barely Surviving.
6 Eastern Europe: Nationalism and New Mission.
7 Central and South Asia: Confidence and Complexity.
8 Western Europe: Thin, but Alive.
9 Sub-Saharan Africa: Hope and Despair.
10 East Asia: Piety and Politics.
11 Latin America: After Monopoly.
12 North America: Faith in a Free Market.
13 Oceania: Experiments in Identity.
Part III: How They Got There.
Introduction.
14 The Ancient Tradition: Beginnings to 500.
15 The Great Division and the Age of the East: 500 to 1000.
16 The Rise of the West and Decline of the East: 1000 to 1500.
17 Christianity in a Global Era: 1500 to the Present.
Index.
- Written by an award-winning author, this global introduction to Christianity illuminates the many ways the world's Christians live out their faith today
- Offers uniquely comprehensive geographical coverage, encompassing Africa, Asia, and Latin America, as well as Europe, North America, and the Pacific
- Written in an even-handed way, providing impartial accounts of all four of the world's major Christian traditions: Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and Pentecostal/Charismatic
- Combines the best available sources to produce the most up-to-date numerical analysis of Christianity, offering fascinating demographic insights about Christian populations in different areas of the world
- Uses a multi-disciplinary approach, which blends history, sociology, theology and cultural analysis
- Features exceptionally clear maps and 4-color illustrations throughout
"This book is a guide to global Christianity in all its organizational and geographical diversity. It is a friendly encounter with Christians around the world, in Europe and North America and increasingly in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Written in an accessible but authoritative style, it will serve as a reliable sourcebook and a valuable introduction to the living variety of today's multicultural Christian faith."
—Mark Juergensmeyer, University of California-Santa Barbara, editor of Global Religions: An Introduction
"I am very impressed with this book. It presents a massive amount of material in an accessible fashion. I know of no other book like it available today."
—Anne T. Thayer, Professor of Church History, Lancaster Theological Seminary
"An outstanding work of scholarship. This balanced and comprehensive overview of global Christian realities is the single best introduction to world Christianity that I have ever read."
—Dale T. Irvin, President and Professor of World Christianity, New York Theological Seminary
"At a time when readers are looking for a good basic book on Christianity as a world religion, Douglas Jacobsen offers something even better: a global survey of who and where the Christians are, and a brief history as well. Students and casual readers alike will come away with their questions answered, and those who want to learn more will find many good suggestions about what to read next. This is a valuable book, well worth getting--and keeping."
—Joel Carpenter, Nagel Institute for the Study of World Christianity, Calvin College
"Douglas Jacobsen has written a remarkably thoughtful, insightful, lively and near-comprehensive account of the sprawling, vivid, internally plural and wildly complex phenomenon of world Christianity. For students of politics, culture, development and conflict—for anyone interested in the evolution and prospects of the hundreds of Christian - influenced or inflected societies around the world—The World's Christians is indispensable."
—R. Scott Appleby, Professor of History, University of Notre Dame
